A BIRMINGHAM carer who dishonestly claimed more than £25,000 in benefits when she hid the fact she was working has escaped being sent to prison.

Mr Recorder Richard Atkins said if everyone acted in the way Christine Parker did in helping herself to other people’s money, the: “country would be in a worse state that it is now”.

But in sentencing her to six months imprisonment suspended for two years and ordering her to pay £100 costs, he said he had taken into account she had pleaded guilty at the first opportunity and had started to repay the money.

Parker, 53, of Crossfield Road, Shard End, had previously admitted two charges of failing to notify a change of circumstances. Daniel White, prosecuting at Birmingham Crown Court said in July 1999 Parker and her husband had made a joint legitimate claim for income support.

He said it was made on the basis her husband was too ill to work and they had not savings or other sources of income.

Mr White said they also received housing and council tax benefit but it became apparent Parker began working for a company called Midland Heart plc as a general assistant in August 2005.

Parker failed to tell the Department of Work and Pensions about her employment and when interviewed, admitted she should have done this. Mr White said the total over-payment amounted to £25,393.